At the end of January, the Government announced it was to terminate its contract with Smee & Ford, the company that notifies charities of gifts left to them in Wills. This service is invaluable to our members, who rely on it to notify them of any bequests and use the service to help with forecasting and preventing fraud.
As part of the development of the new service, we were very pleased that ILM has been selected to be a part of the working group that will look at future models and the requirements of the charity sector moving forward. We are also keen to ensure that any new service improves the process for legal professionals.
It was very clear from our member survey, discussions with our own working group and our consultation with external stakeholders that a lapse in service would be very detrimental to charities and executors, and that any new service needs to be transitioned in smoothly. We are also keen to ensure that the new service is cheaper to operate because we are asking for it to be offered free of charge to charities, with the data that is generated being made more widely available for researchers.
Our initial consultations indicate that there are simple changes to the probate system and potential technological solutions that could be introduced which would improve the way this element of the probate and estate administration process works for all parties, including legal professionals. We look forward to working with the Law Society and other professional bodies to ensure that the new system is better and cheaper than the current system.
ILM is now in the process of drafting a submission regarding a new service to the Ministry of Justice, outlining our concerns, and this will be completed next week in advance of the first consultation meeting with the MoJ which will take place in early March.
For further information, or for interview requests, please contact Sonya Dallat, Head of Communications, Institute of Legacy Management at comms@legacymanagement.org.uk.
This article was submitted to be published by the Institute of Legacy Management as part of their advertising agreement with Today’s Wills and Probate. The views expressed in this article are those of the submitter and not those of Today’s Wills and Probate.
